Improvement in counting-machines



T. J. YOUNG.

Counting Machine.

Patented March 11, 1862.

ewes

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. YOUNG, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENN$YLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO I HIMSELFAND JOHN ELDER.

IMPROVEMENT IN COUNTING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 34,665, dated March 11,1862.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. YOUNG, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Counting- Machines; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. and totheletters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to mechanism for counting the number of strokesmade by an engine; and it consists of a series of numbering-wheelshaving projections and a series of cog-wheels with separating-plates,the said wheels and plates being acted on by springs or theirequivalents in the manner described hereinafter, so as to causesufficient friction to hold the numbering-wheels in the position towhich they have been moved, and so as to prevent the movement of onewheel from disturbing or prematurely moving the adjacent wheel.

In order to enable others to make and use my invention, I will nowproceed to describe its construction and operation.

On reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of thisspecification, Figure 1 is a front view of my improved counting-machinewith the face-plate removed; Fig. 2, a transverse section, and Fig. 3 adetached sectional View, of part of the machine.

Similar letters and figures refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

A is the outer boxjshaped casing of the machine, and is provided withsuitable lugs a a for attachment to the engine, the strokes of which themachine is intended to count. Two longitudinal shafts B and O arepermanently secured within the casing, and to the upper shaft B are hungloosely the numbering- "heels 1, 2, 3, i, 5, and 6, a number ofcogwheels 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 being hung loosely to the lower shaft O. Ahollow spindle w, for admitting one end of the shaft B, passes throughand turns in a projection 12 on one end of the casing A, and to thishollow spindle is secured an arm D, which is so connected to any movingpart of the engine as to receive a vibrating motion, an arm E beingsecured to the same hollow spindle inside the casin To this arm E ishung a pawl F,

so formed and so arranged as to bear against one of the ten projectionsd on one side of the first numbering-wheel 1, an adjacent projectionserving to keep the pawl from falling below a given position. On theopposite side of the first numbering-wheel1 is a single projection e,which is so situated as to catch against the teeth in the cog-wheel 7,into which gear the ten projections f on one side of the secondnumbering-wheel 2, on the opposite side of which is a single projectionh for catching against the teeth of the cog-wheel S, into which engagesthe projections i '0' on the third numbering-wheel In like manner amovement is communicated from the third numbering-wheel to the fourththrough the cog-wheel 9, and from the fourth to the fifth through thecog-wheel 10, and from the fifth to the sixth through the cog-wheel 11,and so on throughout the series, whatever number of wheels maybe used.

Each numbering-wheel consists of a metal disk, to the edge of which ametal ring is fitted snugly, but so as to admit of being moved whenadjustmentis necessary. On the rings are marked the numerals, 1, 2, 3,4-, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0, and to the casing is secured a cover or lid inwhich is a series of oblong slots, (shown by red lines, Fi 1,) one slotbeing directly op posite to the periphery of each of the numboring-wheels, and being of such dimensions that one number only on eachwheel can be seen through the cover of the casing at one time.

In adjusting the numberingnvheels in the first instance they must occupysuch a posi tion that the zero-mark of the whole of the wheels willappear through the openings in the cover. As there are ten projectionscl on the first numbering-wheel for the pawl F to act on and but oneprojection e on the same wheel to act 011 the teeth of the wheel 7, itwill be evident that the latter wheel will not move until the completionof the tenth vibra tion of the arm D, when the said wheel 7 will move tothe extent of one-tenth of its circumference and communicate a similarmovement to the second numberingwheel, which, together with the firstwheel, will present the figure 10 to view through the cover. lVhen thesecond numbering-wheel has thus been moved to the extent of one completerevolu tion, it will have communicated to the cogwheel 8, andconsequently to the third numbering-wheel, a movement to the extent ofone-tenth of a revolution, in which case the numbering-wheels 1, 2, and3 will together present the figure 100 to View, showing that the arm Dhas made one hundred complete vibrations, and that the engine to whichthe arm is connected has made a similar number of strokes. As the armDcontinues to vibrate, the numbering operation will be continued untilthe figures representing nine hundred and ninety-nine thousandninehundred and ninety-nine are exposed to view, when the numberingcapacity of a machine with six numbering-wheels will be exhausted. Itscapacity, however, may be increased by adding other wheels.

It will be observed that on each side of each numberingwheel there is acentral hub y, and that the hub of one wheel is separated from that ofthe adjacent wheel by a plate G, the Whole of these plates being hungloosely to-a rod H, secured within the casing A. In like manner the hub20 of each of the cogwheels 7 8 9, &c., is separated by a plate I fromthe hub of the adjacent cog-wheel, the whole of these plates fittingloosely over a rod J ,secured to the casing.

A plate K fits loosely over the two shafts B and C and bears against thearm E and against a collar L on the shaft C, the outer hub of the firstnumbering-wheel bearing against this plate, and the outer hub of thefirst cog-wheel 7 bearing against aloose collar M, which bears againstthe said plate K.

A coiled spring N surrounds one end of the I shaft B, and being confinedby the end of the casing serves to force the whole of the plates G andthe numbering-wheels in the direction of the arrow, the force of thespring being resisted by the plate K. In like manner a spiral spring Psurrounding one end of the shaft 0 serves to press the whole of theplates I and the cog-wheels in the direction of the arrow, the pressureof the spring being resisted by the same plate K. The springs thus servenot only to maintain the plates and wheels in their proper relativeposition, but

to create sufficient friction between the plates and the hubs of theWheels to prevent the latter from being turned beyond the point desiredfor a proper exhibition of their figures through the openings in thecover, while the plates themselves, being rendered by the rods H and Jincapable of turning on the-shaft, serve as washers to prevent themovement of one wheel from disturbing and prematurely moving theadjacent wheel;

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- Thenumbering-wheels 1 2 3, &c.,withtheir projections and the plates G G, incombination with the cog-wheels 7 8 9, &c., and the plates I, when thesaid plates G and I are pre- Vented from turning by the rods H and J, ortheir equivalents, and when the whole of the plates and wheels are actedon by the spiral springs or their equivalents, as and for the purposeherein set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in' thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS J; YOUNG;

